The fact that staff at Croydon University Hospital were "unable to find emergency anti-seizure medicine" to treat a 73-year-old South African rugby legend did not contribute to his death, a coroner has ruled.

Retired rugby player Moegamat Salie Fredericks, of Pawson's Road in Selhurst, was rushed to the hospital on May 16 last year after he fell over at home.

Known as Salie Fredericks, he played nearly 200 games for South African team Western Province in the 1960s and 70s, with many commentators saying he would have been a stalwart in the South African national team had it not been for the country's apartheid regime.

The father of four was born in Cape Town, and moved to Croydon after retiring from the game, working in the building trade.

On May 16 last year he told paramedics he had gone to his kitchen to make two mugs of tea for himself and his wife, but that he "could not remember" anything after that, South London Coroner's Court heard on Thursday (February 22).

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Addressing the court, senior coroner Selena Lynch recorded a verdict of accidental death, ruling that the hospital's inability to locate lorazepam on May 17 was "not causative".

She said: "Based on the evidence given to me by the pathologist and the doctor, I strongly believe that this gentleman started suffering from seizures as a result of a fall or falls, and not vice versa.

"It is very common for people of his age to develop pneumonia after suffering from seizures in hospital.

"Some people regard falls as a normal and natural event in old age and therefore some coroners record falls in the elderly which precede death as 'natural causes'.

"I am going to come down on the other side and rule that this was an accident."

Croydon University Hospital (stock pic) (Image: David Cook)

Turning to Mr Salie Fredricks' family, Ms Lynch added: "I am sorry for your loss and I am sure you will have and cherish a great many good memories of him."

In a statement submitted to the coroner, a spokesman for Croydon University Hospital wrote: "The lack of lorazepam on this occasion has been identified and corrected.

"Our apologies have been conveyed to the family and we are working to ensure this issue does not occur again."